Can-opener



W. L WILSON.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.10.I911.

Patented July 8, 1919.

TNF! COLUMIIA PLANOORAPN C0 wAnHlNd'roN. D. C.

WILLIAM L. WILSON, OF ZILLAH, WASHINGTON.

CAN- OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919:

Application filed August 10, 1917. Serial No. 185.503.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zillah, in the county of Yakima and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in a can opener and has for one of its objects the provision of a device of this character, whereby the cutting means may be readily adjusted so that the device may cut cans of several sizes.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means whereby a can may be opened at its sides adjacent its upper end, so that after the can has been opened, there will be no obstruction in removing the contents from the can.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a shank adapted to engage the top of a cam at the center thereof and having cutting means adjustable thereon adapted to engage and out the side of a can adjacent its upper end when the shank is disposed in a horizontal plane and moved in the arc of a circle.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a can opener of the above stated character, which shall be simple, durable and ei'licient, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can opener constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same,

Fi 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal seetiona viewillnstrating the means of adjusting the cutting means,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a cylindrical body having formed upon one end thereof, a tapering shank 2, which has secured to its free end, a pointed retaining member 3 that is adapted to be inserted in the center of the top or cover of a can. The tapering shank 2 forms a shoulder 4 at its point of formation to the body 1 for limiting the movement of an operating handle 5 upon the body 1 in one direction. A reduced screwthreaded extension 6 is formed upon the other end of the body 1 and has threaded thereon, a re taining collar 7 that abuts the handle 5 and cooperates with the shoulder l in rotatably supporting the handle upon the body 1 and which will prevent the handle from moving endwise upon said body. The handle 5 is internally threaded as at 8 for the purpose of meshing with threads 9 formed upon an arm 10. The arm 10 is slidable in a groove 11 formed in the body 1 and shank 2. The arm 10 extends forwardly in the direction of the retaining element 3 and is offset as shown at 12. The offset portion 12 of the arm is bifurcated and has rotatably mounted therein, a cutting disk 13, which is adapted to engage and cut a can.

In operation, the retaining element 3 is inserted through the center of the top or cover of a can and the shank 2 is then disposed in a horizontal plane over the cover or top of the can. The handle 5 is then rotated to move the cutting disk 13 into ongagement with the side of the can and by turning the device in the are of a circle or about the can, the cutting disk 13 will cut the sides of the can, removing the cover or top therefrom.

WVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A can opener comprising a cylindrical body having one end reduced and screw threaded, a tapering shank formed on the other end of said body and defining an annular shoulder at its point of formation with said body, a retaining means married by the free end of said shank, said shank and body having alining grooves, an arm slidable in the grooves of the body and shank and having its forward end spaced from said shank, a cutting element carried by said end of the arm, threads formed on the arm, and an internally screw threaded cylindrical handle mounted on the body and having one end abutting the shoulder and 10 its threads meshing with the threads of said in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. WILSON.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE M. KEYEs, JOHN T. ROBERTS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

